Venturing into a whole new world.

So I decided that after a rough nite last nite and a scary appointment this morning, I deserved to do something for me.

I walked into a bike shop.

It said "BIANCHI" in big letters and next to it "BIKE SALE".

Oooooooooooooooo!!

As I opened the door, I am greeted by a guy named Eric, who by chance is the owner. I tell him that I have never been on a *ahem* road bike before that my experience is limited to mtb. He shows me a Cannondale - no thanks. He shows me a Seven. "Um....Sir? This is my FIRST road bike". He shows me a Specialized. Dolce Elite to be exact. Beautiful. White with purple. Zertz and carbon. Sleek lines. Ohhhhhhhhh baby.

BUT!! Over to the left of it is the BIANCHI. "Oh wait sir! What about the Bianchi?" He tells me that that is the same as the Dolce, made in Taiwan, (MADE IN TAIWAN???!!?) and that it's hard getting Bianchis because he placed an order a few months back and who knows where they are. He goes on to explain that with a road bike, I better plan on riding long distances. I told him about my back. His face dropped and then he told me that riding road is much more easier, faster - yada yada - BUT in order to get something out of it, you must ride at least 30 miles before you can benefit from it. Hmmmmmmmm.

So he sits me on the Dolce. Immediately I grab for the brakes that aren't there. "Oh hey, they are up HERE." "Uhh yes ma'am. This is how road bikes are". "Is this a good size for me?" "Pick up the bike front and rear till it hits you" "What?" "Pick it up". I felt funny as he pulled the bike to make it even to the floor, making me jump a little. "Hey!" "Oh sorry. I know. It's different from mtb. Oh and this is how you work the gears." He pushed sideways on the brake levers and of course that freaked me out. "Where's the thumbshifters? There's no thumbshifters?" "Uh no ma'am. This is a road bike. Here, take it out for a spin". I sat on the bike and got dizzy just from the size of the tires against the linoleum floor. "No thanks". He looked at me funny. "But why not?"

"Well sir to be honest, I'm not sure if my back can handle riding a minimum of thirty miles in one position. I figure with an mtb I can be a little agressive, work harder, climb in the dirt, jump a little and be challenged a bit when around the rocks and roots. And I don't think I have to ride 30 miles to get a workout on a mtb. Thank you for the offer though." Silence. "Tell you what. If you buy the Dolce today, I'll knock it off $100."

"Ummm. Not today. But thanks!"

He gave me a card, some catalogs. As I left I realized that the experience of looking at the bikes didn't do it for me like it did when I was looking at the bouncy bouncy boing boings. There was no drooling, no *thunk*. Nothing like that. Matter of fact, I sensed fear when I saw those tiny tires.

This may be premature but other than my UMB, I think I'm a fat tire girl for life.

Last edited by Siu Blue Wind; 02-13-07 at 03:11 PM.

Originally Posted by Buddha

We are what we think. All that we are arises with our thoughts. With our thoughts, we make the world.

Originally Posted by making

Please dont outsmart the censor. That is a very expensive censor and every time one of you guys outsmart it it makes someone at the home office feel bad. We dont wanna do that. So dont cleverly disguise bad words.

We are what we think. All that we are arises with our thoughts. With our thoughts, we make the world.

Originally Posted by making

Please dont outsmart the censor. That is a very expensive censor and every time one of you guys outsmart it it makes someone at the home office feel bad. We dont wanna do that. So dont cleverly disguise bad words.

We are what we think. All that we are arises with our thoughts. With our thoughts, we make the world.

Originally Posted by making

Please dont outsmart the censor. That is a very expensive censor and every time one of you guys outsmart it it makes someone at the home office feel bad. We dont wanna do that. So dont cleverly disguise bad words.

You don't have to be in only one position for all 30 miles. Drop bars allow for a considerable number of riding positions. With my hands on the shoulders, my posture is only slightly lower on my road bike than on a mountain bike. You can also stand and pedal to give your muscles a little stretch periodically. Just make sure that the bars are not ultra-roadie, preposterously low and you should be ok.

I've "gotten" plenty out of rides that were 3 or 4 miles long. Heck, I rarely ride over 30 miles. I'm even entering a TT this season that's only 5 miles long (granted, it's pretty much straight uphill.)

Find another LBS. And don't give up. Road bikes are a TOTALLY different world than mountain bikes, it's gonna take plenty of adjustment. But the cool thing is, you can do it at your own pace.

Have you looked at cyclocross bikes? They'll usually have more relaxed geometry than your regular road bike and they'll have a slightly more up-right riding position, too. Plus you can fit 35 to 40 sized tires depending on the model (the bike you were on was probably around a 23). There's also the ability to do some light offroad. Hard pack trails, fire roads, etc. If you're set on Bianchi, the Volpe is their entry-level geared CX bike. If you want to go SS, then there's the San Jose. It's worth a look.

I was looking at those in the first place but maybe I should reconsider.

Originally Posted by jsharr

TURN AND RUN OUT THE DOOR. FIND A NEW SHOP! The guy was full of what he thought was knowledge.

What's funny is, I asked him if he rode mtb or road and he said he doesn't ride. ??? ???

Originally Posted by Ritehsedad

Play around with the UMB. I think you'll end up liking it and think more seriously about a roadie.

I plan on trying to use the UMB as my primary bike this spring. I won't jump into anything too fast. But I really am wanting to do something other than mtb.

Originally Posted by Buddha

We are what we think. All that we are arises with our thoughts. With our thoughts, we make the world.

Originally Posted by making

Please dont outsmart the censor. That is a very expensive censor and every time one of you guys outsmart it it makes someone at the home office feel bad. We dont wanna do that. So dont cleverly disguise bad words.

We are what we think. All that we are arises with our thoughts. With our thoughts, we make the world.

Originally Posted by making

Please dont outsmart the censor. That is a very expensive censor and every time one of you guys outsmart it it makes someone at the home office feel bad. We dont wanna do that. So dont cleverly disguise bad words.

That is what I was thinking, Cat - a long time ago. Even before Mich sent the UMB...

And if I do the Jake the Snake, Jon will probably go for the Jake. It's what we were both looking at before anyway.

Originally Posted by Buddha

We are what we think. All that we are arises with our thoughts. With our thoughts, we make the world.

Originally Posted by making

Please dont outsmart the censor. That is a very expensive censor and every time one of you guys outsmart it it makes someone at the home office feel bad. We dont wanna do that. So dont cleverly disguise bad words.

Well, since everyone else is throwing in their two cents, here's mine: get a true road bike. It will be the yin to your bouncy-bouncy-boing-boing yang. You can already ride on dirt. Now it's time to fly.

Sui, dont let him turn ya off to road bikes. You've seen my fine stable of mt bikes, and i rarely ride em anymore. Too busy enjoying the roadie. I am actually more comfortable on the road bike with my back problem then the mt bike. Miles also rack up alot faster on a road bike since it rolls much faster and with less resistance. Keep looking around, try Mikes Bikes and look for some 06 models and you can save a few bucks. I dont think they carry Bianchi though.